Getting around in Delhi

Shikha Gautam

If slow travelling is your way, Shikha Gautam is your person. Travelling, hitchhiking, camping, biking her way at a leisurely pace across India, specially the Himalayan regions, she takes readers on journeys through her words and photos. Other than Happy Trips, she blends travel and photography at www.nomadscribblings.com.

Delhi, the capital of India, is a kaleidoscope of sorts. Spread over 1484 sq km, the National Capital Territory of Delhi, also holds the distinction of being the largest state (in terms of land area) in the country. One of the rare few cities to tread the line between contemporary and vintage with such aplomb, Delhi is home to centuries old buildings as well as a skyline that is increasingly bursting with skyscrapers. If you have landed in this vast land of plenty and wondering how to see it all, here is your quick guide to the various modes of transport in Delhi.

Delhi Metro

Delhi Metro is, clearly, the quickest, affordable and one of the best ways to get around Delhi. The network boasts of AC coaches, one coach in each metro being reserved for women, and an average frequency of one metro every five minutes. You can either get a token or a smart card in lieu of cash for travelling via metro, the minimum recharge value for the cards being ₹200 (in addition to ₹100 for procuring a new card). Fare for the journey depends on the distance covered.

Currently, the Delhi Metro network operates on six circuits, with more routes in order. The network connects different zones of Delhi and the NCR region, including different interstate bus terminals, airport and all the major places. You can download the route map for Delhi Metro on your smartphones, check the official website or get a hard copy from any of the metro stations.

Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses

With a humongous fleet of AC and non-AC buses, DTC is the biggest public transport operator in Delhi. You can hop on to one of its buses to get around Delhi for surprisingly minimal fares. These buses connect almost all the parts of Delhi, ideal for short distances. While metro rails are a more comfortable option, DTC buses connect even the relatively far-flung areas of Delhi.

You can buy tickets from the conductor after boarding it.

Tip:

Avoid boarding these buses during office hours (8 AM to 10 AM & 5 PM to 7 PM), for these are more crowded as compared to metro rails and the other means of transport in Delhi.

Rickshaws (cycle, auto and e-rickshaws)

These are the most convenient mode to commute over short distances. While cycle rickshaws are a more practical option in comparatively congested areas including Old Delhi, Lajpat Nagar, most of the metro stations and the Delhi University campus, auto rickshaws can be found in almost all the areas. Hone your bargaining skills well, for you will find much use for that while getting into a cycle/e-rickshaw!

All the auto rickshaws in Delhi are fitted with electronic meters to help you get more accurate fare reading. While the fare is higher than that of a cycle or e-rickshaw, auto rickshaws are faster and more suited for travelling over longer distances.

Tips:

Remember to check that the auto rickshaw meter reads zero at the time of boarding and is switched on only when the journey starts.

You can contact the nearest traffic police officer or booth if the driver does not charge you as per the meter reading or is against using the meter.

Private/shared cabs

A number of private cab operators or cab sharing service providers, including Uber, Ola and Easy Cabs, have also started operating in Delhi. Perfect for anyone eager for a more comfortable and private mode of transport, these can be hailed via their official website or downloadable mobile applications. Fares are set on a per km basis, receipts of which are sent to the user on their registered e-mails IDs and mobile phones.

Some of the cab operators also allow booking cabs on a sharing basis that lets users travelling on the same route to book one cab and split the bill.

A few women-exclusive cab operators have also launched their services in Delhi, including Sakha Cabs for Women (+91-9278708-888/+91-9999193004) and ForShe Cabs (+91-11-44222222/+91-11-44333222). Such services have only women chauffeurs for their cabs.

Tip:

Book well in advance if you want to access one of the women-exclusive service, since these usually see a huge rush.

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Getting around in Delhi

Delhi, the capital of India, is a kaleidoscope of sorts. Spread over 1484 sq km, the National Capital Territory of Delhi, also holds the distinction of being the largest state (in terms of land area) ...